Special Course is a set of bonus courses only available in theRainbow Run mode ofKirby: Canvas Curse. TheseCopy Ability-specific courses replaceThe World of Drawcia in the eighth slot of the Level Select wheel. Each course is "purchased" individually from theMedal Swap menu. The eight Special Courses limitKirby to one specificcopy ability. Of all copy abilities in the game, onlyStone,Wheel,Missile, andBalloon have a pair of Rainbow Run courses. And each one offers medals for successful Time Trial and Line Trial challenge completions. As the courses cater to specific mastery of certain copy abilities, no other unlocked characters can be used.

Unlocking Courses[edit]

Four Special Courses are available for immediate purchase inMedal Swap starting at the 8th line for ninemedals. The medals can be earned in the Main Game or in Rainbow Run challenges. The first four available are "Course A" for each copy ability. "Course B" only becomes available after the first is unlocked. All of the B Courses cost 10 medals to unlock. Each course offers three medals in its two modes, totaling six potential new medals for unlocking other rewards.

Common Traits[edit]

Each course shares a general simplistic appearance consisting of off white colored square bricks as the most abundant element. Other objects, hazards, enemies, and features vary with each course. Both modes (Time Trial & Line Trial) for each stage are the exact same stage but with the differing goals of playing for either the lowest time, or least amount ofink used. The background images are also kept in both trials, but change from stage to stage. SeveralCopy Ability Blocks can be found throughout the entire course requiring Kirby to use his ability to smash through. Copy abilities can not be lost or dropped; when Kirby takes damage, he'll be stunned for a moment, but the ability remains intact yet deactivated. The ability can be reactivated at any time after recovering from the stunned state. Kirby'shealth will reflect the number of life boosts unlocked. Excessive damage and falling through open pits will end the challenge.

Stone Courses[edit]

Opening screens for "Stone A" (top) and "Stone B" (Bottom)

Stone Course A is a small stage in whichKirby can practice being a rolling stone on dry land. This course focuses on the vertical spans in which Kirby can employ theStone ability down inclines and smash throughStar Blocks,Bomb Blocks, and enemies. Enemies that can be found here areBronto Burts,Waddle Dees,Waddle Doos,Bouncies, andGlunks. The only environmental hazard present is a large open pit towards the end of the stage, but several interactive objects are found throughout the stage. Dash pads, cranes, trampolines, and cannons can be employed to help get Kirby to the goal. This course has several available paths, the more difficult to reach paths have more of the interactive objects which give Kirby an advantage depending on the game mode's goal.

Stone Course B is a much more difficult Stone course. Alternate paths can actually be a setback to completing this maze-like course's goals, for instance, dash pads can throw Kirby back the way he came. Several enemies were enlisted to the stage, activating the stone ability provides invincibility, but pounding the ground will sometimes be another setback depending on the circumstances. Enemies found here areGordos, Glunks, Bronto Burts,Flame Shotzos,Blippers, and more. The challenges of this stage include a section of water traveling, a field in whichRainbow Lines can not be drawn, several interactive objects likeSuper Cannons, air lift fans, spinning blades, andpound stakes.

Wheel Courses[edit]

Opening screens for "Wheel A" (top) and "Wheel B" (Bottom)

Wheel Course A takes a Wheel powered Kirby through a small stage. The only enemies present are a small flock ofWaddle Dees, which quickly become road-kill as Kirby races through the stage. The course zig zags, changing directions at each approach to a lower level. A curved rainbow line can be drawn tocatch the speeding Kirby and change his direction of travel to keep the speed going. SeveralStar Blocks obstruct the course, but can simply be smashed by crashing through them. The first of the twocannons is worth bypassing, but the second shoots Kirby to near the top of a steep wall. The laser beams in the course are best blocked by having rainbow lines in front of them in Time Trial. Line Trial runs may simply take the damage instead of using precious ink. The only two areas required for ink usage are near a small bump early in the course, and the large pitfall just before the goal door.

Wheel Course B drives the Wheel powered Kirby through a larger obstacle course with more turns, enemies, hazards, and destructible objects. A quick comparison of the goals for the Wheel Courses shows higher limits to Course B, an indicator of the larger size and difficulty. Enemies found here include more Waddle Dees,Bronto Burts,Bouncies, and caterpillars. The laser beams of Course A are not present, but similar stretches of open pits return. Other hazards include spiked floors, spiked ceilings, and patches of magma.

Missile Courses[edit]

Opening screens for "Missile A" (top) and "Missile B" (Bottom)

Missile Course A is one of the simplest courses. The stage spirals towards the center with several zig-zagging paths along the way. The entire course can be completed with theMissile form engaged in well under the amount of time for themedal rewards with effective manipulation ofRainbow Lines to guide the ballistic Kirby. The only enemies in the stage areBouncies,Bloons, andWaddle Dees, however none of them present a threat. The cannons in the stage are only really useful in the Line Trial challenge to change direction of travel without wasting ink. Another notable aspect of the stage is the abundance ofCopy Ability Blocks, which do little to deter travel while in missile form. The largest risk in the stage is colliding with a solid wall, doing so will stun Kirby, disengage the missile form and waste the time and ink needed to get back on track.

Missile Course B is a small course, but its difficulty derives from the tight turns needed to blast through. A game ending open pit and narrow passage occurs at the beginning of the stage. Severalswitches andbomb blocks requiring contact to openshutters also serve to necessitate the need for erratic traveling to contact themon-the-go. Enemies again present no threat while in missile form, Waddle Dees, Bonto Burts,Rocky, fallingboulders, and Bouncy can all be shot in this stage. Only a single laser is in this stage, but is located near a switch.

Balloon Courses[edit]

Opening screens for "Balloon A" (top) and "Balloon B" (Bottom)

Balloon Course A is a simple upwardly travelingBalloon specific course. The Line Trial is the simplest to complete, as not even a single small stroke is needed to break Kirby from the directly up default. Just as the usualball form, balloon bounces in alternate directions after contacting a wall. To begin the shifting movements, Kirby can be inflated then dropped and allowed to roll. Strategic inflating and wall bouncing are simple enough to master, thus granting allmedals in a single run. The battery ofShotzos can deflate Kirby and drop him, causing the Time Trial to be more difficult.

Balloon Course B steps up the difficulty by adding spiked walls, and more enemies, including theSpear Waddle Dee. The stage includes several alternate paths, with some of them obstructed bystar blocks andbomb blocks. One strange aspect of the Balloon Courses is the lack of balloon specific copy ability blocks. The most difficult aspect is getting an inflated Kirby through narrow paths to ascend to the goal doorway.

Gallery[edit]

• 
  Screenshot of Stone Course 1.
• 
  Screenshot of Stone Course 2.
• 
  Screenshot of Wheel Course 1.
• 
  Screenshot of Wheel Course 2.
• 
  Screenshot of Missile Course 1.
• 
  Screenshot of Missile Course 2.
• 
  Screenshot of Balloon Course 1.
• 
  Screenshot of Balloon Course 2.

Names in other languages[edit]

• Levels in Kirby: Canvas Curse
• Unlockable

• Articles which list German names